Do You Wanna Dance Under the Moonlight?

Kiss me baby all through the night, ohhhh baby, do you want to dance???? Do ya, do ya, do ya, do ya wanna dance?

I love to dance. As a creative activity, it is right up there with writing as one of my favorite things to do. I can't dance enough. I love to watch dancing competitions. I love all styles of dance, from folk dances to ballet. I like learning the steps and practicing them in front of my mirror.

My current dancing passion is very sensual and romantic, belly dancing. I'm reading about, watching it on Fit TV and You Tube. I particularly like the program "SHIMMY". It is easy to follow instructional workout based on belly dancing moves and it really provides an exceptional abdominal workout. You can look it up on You Tube and see a partial segment of "SHIMMY" for yourself.

Despite the fact that I feel sexy when I'm doing the moves, I have already lost eight pounds and several inches off my waist and hips, so it works. I can see my abs improving daily. My posture is better. I sit up straighter and feel better all around. I have only been doing this three to four times a week for just over two weeks and the results are more than I dreamed of.

The nice thing about belly dancing is you do not have to be a stick to do it. In fact the curvier you are the more sensual the dance. The moves accentuate the breasts and hips making them even more erotic. Besides flattening the abdominals, belly dancing also tones up flabby arms and trims down hips and thighs.

All the way around it is a wonderful routine for any woman who wants to do something nice for herself. If you need a boost in your workout routine, try belly dancing. You may find that it's the perfect dance for you.

My Muse-a bit of fiction

Where have you gone my muse, my friend? You've been busy, you say, helping another lost soul create. Their creativity has stunted my own voice. I cannot work without your thoughts rattling around in my head. I do not blame you, my muse, for being busy and active. It is truly my own fault for relying on you so much. I've looked forward to the deep conversations and the arguments to propel my work forward into new depths and directions. When you turn your fickle head to other pursuits, I feel bereft and adrift with no direction. I've come to rely on you, my muse to entertain me, to educate me and now I've pushed you away. I've driven you away by my own selfish neediness. I've tormented you with boring commentary. I am a sponge soaking up the juices of your intellect, your insights. The differences we have in viewpoint about goals, life, dreams and ambitions drive me to think outside my personal point of reference. I long for the pearls of wisdom you share, they feed my spirit with their beauty. I haven't asked for much, just a minute or two of your time. Have I invaded your comfort zone my friend? I have burdened you with a task you no longer wish to have. I will release you, my muse, so you can go forward and help other mere mortals with their creative needs. Please know how much you've meant to me in my times of doubt and worry. Without your encouragement and pushing I would not be able to write a simple sentence. I will go on without your guidance, and if someday you return to me, I will welcome your help with openness and eagerness. In the meantime, I will stumble along on my own, seeking my own foolish wisdom. Goodbye dearest conversationalist, so long inspiration....my muse.

Challenges and Changes

How womankind, who are confined to the house still more than men, stand it I do not know; but I have ground to suspect that most of them do not stand it at all.-Henry David Thoreau

I worked for nearly twenty years before deciding to become a SAHM and work from home. I love my kids. They bring me the greatest of joys and the lowests of dispairs. They are my sun and now my life revolves around them 24/7. It is a blessing and a malediction.

In my quest for the perfect job to be able to stay at home, I tried many things. Running my own business, being an outside sales rep and even telecommuting but none of those jobs worked out for me. Finally I settled on property management simply because the opportunity presented itself. Happily I left the employ of my rather large and intimidating firm to work solo from my little desk in my cozy new apartment.

The first month or two were full of joy and celebrations, playing with my kids day and night, teaching them, cooking for them, entertaining them. Then the reality of daily life set in and I realized that if I didn't make a drastic change, I would lose my mind.

Suddenly instead of finding my children a joy, they were driving me crazy. I no longer had my own thoughts. They consumed all of my time and energy. I had nothing left for myself. My life balance was all out of whack. I had started resenting the very thing I had craved for so long, my children's undying complete attention.

To resolve this issue meant trying to get my husband to understand and sympathize. That did not go over so well. He still doesn't completely understand the issue or why I felt so depressed at the thought of caring for my own children. To be honest, neither did I. But I finally realized that I needed more. I needed connections with old friends, phone calls to family, and writing.

Writing became my salvation. It has provided me with the outlet I need to be myself. It has given me something to do beyond care for my family and the tiny four walls of my fortress. If you have ever felt this way, you understand exactly how I'm feeling. If you haven't, well then I'm glad for you. Happy parenting, happy blogging and happy writing!

Creative Writing

"And here I am, here I am, and you don't need to look so pleased."-Morrissey. I find inspiration to write in many places. My children, my husband, old friends, favorite songs, news clippings, photographs and old movies all add to my various pieces of written art. I want to share my art with you. I'm not trying to be the most clever, beautiful, brilliant or creative writer ever. I just want to write. It is in my blood and the beat of my heart moves this life giving fluid through out my body until every cell is infused with the desire to type and pound at my keyboard. I am driven by needs and desires of the cerebral kind. This blog is mine and only mine. I share it with you as a gift from my heart. You may comment if you like, but reserve your judgements. Constructive criticism is welcome, but be respectful. You are not nor will you ever be me. You do not know me even if you've known me forever. I may shock and surprise even the most jaded of readers and my fondest of friends. I may offend and occasionally make you angry. That's OK with me too. You don't have to read this drivel and nonsense if you don't want too. My work may take many forms, poetry, personal essays or fiction. I write for children, recipes, sci-fi and romantic fiction. Simply put, this is my work. I am not writing to please you or anyone else. At the same time, I hope you like what you read and come back often.

If you are a stay-at-home mom, I hope this blog encourages you to become creative and give back to yourself. Whatever your medium of choice, just do something for yourself everday. It is the only way to maintain your sanity and be able to do the primary job you've chosen, being a mom. Never let the confines of your family limit your creativity. You may be caught up in the daily grind and soccer mom routine, but take a few minutes to let your creative spirit flow and you will be refreshed.